Former investment broker jailed for five years

Former investment broker Tony Taylor has been jailed for five years for defrauding four clients out of a total investment of just over IR£382,000.

Through his legal team, Taylor apologised for his actions, but the court was told the victims were unlikely to see a penny of their investment reimbursed.

The prosecution of Taylor follows the largest fraud investigation in the history of the state.

53-year-old Tony Taylor, formerly of Anglesea Road in Dublin, fled to England when his business, Taylor Asset Management, collapsed in 1996.

However, he was arrested and extradited to Ireland in 1999 to face fraud charges relating to cash lodged in his investment business.

In court today, Mr Taylor pleaded guilty to five charges, including the fraudulent conversion of two cheques, one worth IR£5,000 and the other IR£220,000.

He also admitted conducting business on a fraudulent basis and destroying records.